Kinotoya is Hokkaido's most beloved pastry and confectionery brand, using Hokkaido's famous milk and dairy in all its products. The freshly baked cheese tart — a warm, custard-filled pastry with a crisp tart shell — is one of Japan's most popular airport souvenir sweets. Also famous for its soft cream (soft-serve), milk rolls, and seasonal Hokkaido flavour sweets. Found throughout Sapporo and at New Chitose Airport.
Kinotoya is the most recognised confectionery and bakery brand in Hokkaido, with outlets across Sapporo, at New Chitose Airport, and at several other Hokkaido tourist sites. Founded in Sapporo and built around the exceptional quality of Hokkaido milk and dairy, the brand has become synonymous with a particular style of warm, custard-rich pastry that has made it one of the most queued-for souvenir food stops in Japan.
The product that put Kinotoya on the map nationally is the cheese tart — a small, crimped tart shell filled with a rich, warm Hokkaido dairy custard that is soft, slightly tangy, and intensely milky. The tarts are baked in batches throughout the day and are at their best eaten within twenty to thirty minutes of coming from the oven, when the custard is still slightly warm and the shell retains its crisp snap. Asking staff when the next batch is ready is the standard advice for visitors wanting the best experience.
Beyond the cheese tart, Kinotoya's range includes Hokkaido milk soft-serve ice cream (a gentle, clean, dairy-forward flavour), milk rolls (enriched bread rolls made with Hokkaido butter and cream), and an extensive range of seasonal flavoured sweets using Hokkaido ingredients — lavender, corn, melon, and white chocolate cream in rotation through the year.
The New Chitose Airport branch is the busiest and most convenient for travellers departing Hokkaido; the queue is a permanent fixture but moves reasonably quickly. Sapporo branches — including locations in the Odori underground shopping area — are calmer. Prices are modest: cheese tarts are typically ¥216 each and soft-serve under ¥500.
Good to know
- Known for
- Hokkaido milk products and baked goods
- Reservations
- Not applicable
Highlights
- Hokkaido's most loved confectionery brand
- Warm cheese tarts made fresh every hour
- Hokkaido soft-serve ice cream
- Excellent airport souvenir option
Tips for visiting
- The cheese tarts are best eaten within 30 minutes of baking — ask when the next batch is ready
- The New Chitose Airport branch has long queues — buy before departure
- Seasonal flavours change throughout the year
Accessibility
Kinotoya outlets in Sapporo and at New Chitose Airport are retail spaces with level access and standard shop floor layouts. The airport branch is within the terminal building, which is fully accessible. Street-level city branches typically have step-free access from the pavement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kinotoya cheese tart and what makes it special?
The Kinotoya cheese tart is a small, crimped pastry shell filled with a warm Hokkaido dairy custard — rich, slightly tangy, and intensely milky. The quality of Hokkaido's high-fat milk base differentiates it from generic cheese tarts. It is best eaten fresh from the oven, within 30 minutes of baking.
Can Kinotoya cheese tarts be taken home as souvenirs?
Yes. Boxed cheese tarts are available for travel and make good souvenirs for short journeys. The tarts keep for approximately three to four days at room temperature and longer refrigerated. Boxed versions are slightly less memorable than the fresh warm version eaten on the spot.
Where are the most convenient Kinotoya locations for tourists?
New Chitose Airport (domestic terminal) is the most convenient departure souvenir stop. In Sapporo, the Odori underground shopping area branch and the Kinotoya Bake outlet in the city centre are most accessible. Multiple other Sapporo locations exist in department stores and shopping centres.
Is Kinotoya's soft-serve the same as other Hokkaido soft-serve?
Kinotoya's Hokkaido milk soft-serve uses the same high-fat local dairy as its tarts, producing a rich, clean milk flavour. It is comparable in quality to other premium Hokkaido soft-serve brands (such as those at dairy farms) but available in central Sapporo year-round.
Are the seasonal flavours worth trying alongside the cheese tart?
Yes. The seasonal variations — corn cream tart in summer, lavender in July, pumpkin in autumn — are well made and often produce the longest queues among Japanese visitors. They are available only during the relevant season.